Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume met with China’s industry and commerce ministers on July 19 to discuss global economic development, emphasizing the importance of free and fair trade amid current challenges. The meetings also addressed contentious issues such as the European Union’s proposed tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, which have led to retaliatory investigations by China. Volkswagen and other German automakers are concerned about potential retaliation in their significant Chinese market. Additionally, discussions included technological frameworks for autonomous driving and artificial intelligence. Recently, Germany and China signed a declaration to address cross-border data transfers, a key issue given security concerns in Europe and restrictions in China.